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Variety

Last Updated: 6 years ago

A taxonomic rank in botany, a variety is a plant with a distinct appearance from others in the same species, but can be hybridized with other varieties in that species. Some plant varieties occur naturally, for example, in different geographic areas, while others exist as the result of breeding and selection.

Although the term “variety” is often used interchangeably with the term “cultivar,” the latter term implies the plant has been selected through intentional human activity.

Author

James Peth

James Peth, MS, MPH, PhD is an instructor in Food Science and Human Nutrition at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.